Lighting on campus is already poor. Main walk areas, such as the Mall up to Pattee and the lawn in front of Old Main need better illumination to protect students, faculty and residents as they go to meetings, study areas and even home at night.

Making the situation worse is the lack of emergency phones around campus marked by blue lights, which people can use to contact emergency officials if they feel they are in danger.

The University Park campus's use of blue lights does not compare to many other Big Ten schools in the use of blue-light emergency phones on campus.

Universities such as Ohio State University and University of Michigan, which have similar enrollments to that of Penn State, have at least 70 more blue lights on their main campuses than here. Penn State has only 35 blue-light emergency phones.

Although the cost of the lights is substantial -- about $8,000 including installation -- this is one instance where the university can literally not afford to wait. Safety is at least worth this price.

University Park is a relatively safe campus, but officials need to be proactive in installing lights and not wait for a rash of crimes to occur before taking action.

When installing the lights, Penn State should consider putting them in more remote areas, such as parking lots. The current positions of blue lights are in well-lit, common places such as along College Avenue and near the HUB.

In addition, more blue lights are needed in off-campus areas where there is heavy student traffic. Low-lit fraternity districts are packed with students on weekends. Blue lights would make the area safer, as they also would along Calder Way, West College Avenue and side-streets off College Avenue.

To make this community a safe place where students are not afraid to walk after dark, the university needs to install many more blue lights. They will preserve the safety of students and that the university is keeping up with other schools in keeping students safe.

A little more blue means a lot more safe.